288 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 9 



Field meetings and demonstrations are of great value to the farmers 

 because they are able to study the insects in their different stages 

 upon their food plants. The farmers learn in the field in a few minutes 

 more than any amount of reading or lecture courses could teach them. 

 They are also freer to talk and to ask questions when in the field. 

 If their interest and attention is aroused in the field, the literature 

 on insects and their control appeals to them and they will make a 

 study of it with the determination of putting into practice the reme- 

 dies or control measures suggested. 



The apparent indifference and lack of knowledge on the part of 

 many farmers concerning insects is due perhaps to a number of 

 causes. Prominent among these is the small size and insignificant 

 appearance of many injurious insects. If the pests were as large as 

 hogs, sheep, colts or calves no doubt their habits, life-histories and 

 control would be well understood by every farmer. The damage and 

 ravages of insects are often attributed to floods, storms, droughts, 

 lack of soil fertility and the like. It is also a fact that the general 

 public knows less about insects than any other branch of agriculture. 

 Many country school teachers are not even on speaking terms with 

 the chinch bug, Hessian fly or army worm. A few farmers will say: 

 "There is no use of trying to control the insects, because we have 

 always had them with us and we always will have them. We will 

 just have to depend upon the weather and the Lord to control 

 them — that's all." 



This indifference and lack of interest in insects is not confined en- 

 tirely to farmers. Many business men, professional men, and college 

 teachers have no notion whatever of the value of a knowledge of in- 

 sects. It is a sort of a general notion among some that a discussion 

 of insects is going to be dry and uninteresting and it is not worth 

 while anyway. When the subject is handled properly, however, it is 

 equally as interesting as any other phase of the extension work. In 

 many cases farmers have been heard to say: "Well, I am not much 

 interested in bugs, I wish we had a man here to talk live stock." 

 When once the farmers are shown the insects and their work in the 

 fields, they are anxious to know more about their habits, life-histories 

 and control. They see at once that their health, happiness and pros- 

 perity may depend in no small way upon a knowledge of insects. 

 Farmers are always immensely interested in a practical discussion on 

 insect control. 



Some Practical Demonstrations 



About the middle of last June the so-called wheat head army w^orm 

 (Meliana albilinea, Hbn.) appeared in damaging numbers in many 



